Rocky shore

Because it presents a diversity of habitats, the rocky shore also shelters various species of fish. They use the areas close to the rocky shore for their activities, including shelter, feeding, reproduction, or simply as a passage area. Many species have great economic importance, especially for artisanal fishing.

Rocky shores are coastal ecosystems formed by rocks of different sizes. These rocks provide a variety of habitats, and thus many species find suitable places for their survival. Physical factors such as light availability, temperature, tidal fluctuations, wave action, and salinity directly influence the vertical distribution of species along this rocky wall. Therefore, the environmental conditions acting on the rocky shore vary according to depth, and as a result, the animals differ at each depth. In Brazil, rocky shores are mainly found in the Southeast and South regions, and the main threats they face are pollution, trampling, selective removal of organisms, and the collection of ornamental fish.

Tank species

Porkfish

Anisotremus virginicus

A species of fish that can be found in tropical waters across the western Atlantic Ocean. It lives on coral and/or rocky bottoms, usually solitary. Despite being an omnivorous fish, juveniles usually feed on small parasites found in larger fish, and adults on small crustaceans, mollusks and annelids. This species can reach 40 cm in length. In the mating period, large aggregations can be formed. It has yellowish color with white bands along the body.

Squirrelfish

Holocentrus adscensionis

A species of fish found in the tropical and subtropical seas of the Atlantic Ocean. In Brazil, it occurs mainly in the Northeast and Southeast. It lives from environments of rocky shores and coastal reefs, in shallow waters, to the open sea with depths of up to 180 m. It feeds mainly on small crustaceans and algae. It has large reddish eyes, a dark red back with golden highlights, and can reach up to 61 cm in length. It is a commercial fish and capable of producing sounds.

Sand goggle

Haemulon aurolineatum

It is a species found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Massachusetts, in the United States, to the northeast of Brazil. It lives in the marine environment associated with coral reefs, at depths of up to 30 m. It feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, other benthic invertebrates, plankton and algae. The individuals form shoals, can reach up to 25 cm in length and weigh up to 85.6 g. There are reports of poisoning by ciguatera while eating this animal, which can bioaccumulate toxic substances to humans. It is a commercial species in the aquarium and bait market, with little commercialization in other types of fishing.

Chere-chere grunt

Haemulon steindachneri

A species found in the Atlantic Ocean, from Panama to Santa Catarina (Brazil), and in the Pacific Ocean, from Mexico to Peru. It lives in a marine environment associated with reefs, at depths between 0 and 50 m. It can be found in various types of bottom, such as sandy, coral and rocky. It is also widely found in mangroves, water canals and rocky shores, which are known as shallow sea areas. It feeds on benthic invertebrates (which live by marine sediment). Individuals can reach a maximum size of 30 cm and weigh up to 30 kg. It is a commercial species in the aquarium market and can also be used for bait, being not much interesting for other purposes.

Giant Hermit Crab

Petrochirus diogenes

Like all crustaceans, they are invertebrates with the skeleton on the outside (exoskeleton), but their abdomen does not have a very rigid structure like the rest of their exoskeleton, being therefore extremely sensitive, so they use mollusc shells as protection. As they grow, they look for bigger shells in order to be more comfortable and protected. Most are detritivores, meaning they feed on the remains of other dead animals. However, they also include some molluscs, small crustaceans and various larvae in their diet. Some hermit crabs associate with anemones, which prey in their shells act as a shield against possible predators, since anemones have stinging cells in their tentacles, on the other hand, hermit crabs provide displacement for the anemones and often leftover food.

Yellow sea chub

Kyphosus incisor

Common fish in the Western and Eastern Atlantic, they can live up to 15 meters deep. They live in rocky environments and coral reefs, reaching up to 90 cm in length. They feed on algae, also eating Sargassum algae, which is the same as the scorpionfish (Rhinopias frondosa) camouflages itself.

South american silver porgy

Diplodus argenteus

A species that occurs along the entire coast of the American Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. It is found in turbulent coastal environments with shallow water, close to coral, rocky and/or sandy bottoms. It feeds on algae, mollusks, crustaceans and other invertebrates. Its body is oval and compressed, silver in color and has a dark rounded spot called ocellus, next to the tail, used to confuse predators. It can measure up to 37.8 cm in length. It is a little commercial fish.

Spotted Moray

Gymnothorax moringa

This species is found in the Atlantic Ocean, mainly in coral reefs, being able to live from the surface to great depths. With diurnal habits, it feeds mainly on fish and crustaceans, and can reach 200 cm length.